It was a loaded Walker Cup team, perhaps the most accomplished squad ever assembled by America. But in the amateur version of the Ryder Cup, the United States fell flat Saturday and Sunday, losing to Great Britain/Ireland 14-12 at Royal Aberdeen. The U.S. team boasted the world’s top four amateurs — No. 1 Patrick Cantlay, No. 2 Jordan Spieth, No. 3 Patrick Rodgers and No. 4 Peter Uihlein — and included U.S. Amateur champion Kelly Kraft and Nationwide Tour winners Russell Henley and Harris English.
The United States, now with a 34-8-1 record in the competition, performed well in singles, going 9-6-3. But as often has been the case in the Ryder Cup, the Europeans were far superior in team competition, dominating foursomes 6-1-1.
The worst individual results this weekend were turned in by Kraft (0-4), Rodgers (0-2-1) and Nathan Smith (0-2-1). The youngest player on the team, Speith (2-0-1), was the only American with a winning individual mark.
The United States was done in by the likes of Paul Cutler (3-0-1) and Rhys Pugh (3-0).
– Kevin Dunleavy
